Inspiration station :)

[Liftmyselfupagain]

Throwing this random question out there. I am back working FT in a professional desk based job with two kids in primary school. Sort of single mum too so even though i have my mortgage sorted I can't flute around earning nothing.
That said - I cannot sit at a desk for the rest of my life. It sucks the life out of my body and I crave moving and being out and about - honestly it makes me feel depressed and defeated thinking this is it. Plenty people have jobs that don't mean they sit at desks for 8 hours a day and seem to do well in life and have enough.

I am very creative, a painter, a bit of a maker, have an eye for design (but can't see myself as an interior designer), into food, fashion, nature, creating spaces, good writer, good chatter and negotiator, very caring.

I am a well educated professional but really in the polar opposite of what interests me in life, encouraged to take the sensible road when i was young to survive.

Does anyone have any leads. I get so far and then manage to talk myself out of any idea I have and think I am for the birds with silly ideas. Need to set out thr first few steps as I get overwhelmed with the fact that I must be a dreamer. But honestly I would LOVE to take some pleasure in my job in a realistic way, even be my own boss and be able to pick my kids up every now and then, I miss them.
PLEASE :)

Something that helped me was Ikigai and the Eulerian Code—both ways of mapping out what you love, what you're good at, and what could actually work for you as a career or business. If you’re curious, you can Google either to get the gist, but I also found it so useful that I turned it into a free platform to make the process easier. If you think it would help, you’re welcome to use it. Or I have a PDF version I can send over if that’s easier.

And honestly, just from what you’ve said, you already have so many strengths that could translate into something fulfilling—you’re definitely not a dreamer for wanting work that doesn’t drain you!

Thank you :)

I had a quick look last night but will have a closer look at the weekend.

Do you mind me asking what you do or what did you move from to where using these models?

Has anyone else got any interesting stories of transitioning into something else mid life?

I’ve worked in marketing, copywriting, and running magazines for years, and because I was always on a tiny budget, I taught myself everything—graphic design, website building, social media, all of it. I ended up working self-employed, doing bits and pieces for different businesses, but I’d go through cycles of frustration, looking for more stable work.

So I’d take on six-month contracts at big companies, learning new skills and gaining experience, but I always found myself pulled back into running my own business. Every time I went back to a ‘normal’ job, I’d feel drained. I even got quite depressed at one point, and it took me a while to realise that what I was missing was purpose.

For a long time, I downplayed my skills because I didn’t have formal qualifications—I kept thinking I wasn’t an expert. That’s when I started looking into frameworks like Ikigai. It comes from Japan, where the idea is that true fulfilment happens when what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all overlap.

That was a real turning point for me. I realised that what I enjoyed most was helping other people set up in business—and because I’d spent years figuring out how to do it on a tiny budget, I knew I could actually help in a way that mattered. Not by gatekeeping information or charging crazy prices, but by making it accessible—so people didn’t have to go through the same struggle I did.

Now, looking back, every time I took a contract, every time I ‘failed’ or switched direction, I was actually learning the exact lessons I needed.
I really believe that when you find the right idea—one that aligns with your purpose—everything starts making sense. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but even the hard parts become worth it when you’re working towards something that actually matters to you

Some ideas which I you could consider are:
Candle maker
Handcrafted jewellery
Letterbox gifts
Handmade skincare range
Event/wedding planner
Graphic designer
Making craft kits eg knitting/ crochet kits,jewellery kits, children's art boxes
Baking kits for children ( cookies etc)
Calligraphy ( offer to write wedding invitations ) or produce your own art work with positive quotes
Pet business ( making dog or cat collars) etf